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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-05 CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, June 5, 2012 7:30 p.m. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Chair Joyce Miller opened the meeting at 7:35 pm in the Parker Room of the Town Offices Building Commissioners present: Stew Kennedy, Joyce Miller, Duke Bitsko, Jane Warren, David Langseth, Dick Wolk (arrived 7:51 pm) Commissioners absent: Phil Hamilton Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Emily Schadler, Conservation Stewardship Coordinator 7:35 pm Hearing – Community Garden Policies and Fees, Conservation Commission Documentation: Lexington Community Gardens Policy Draft, May 24, 2012 Email packets from stakeholders, June 5, 2012 Ms. Schadler presented the changes in the community garden policies draft since the last meeting. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked to clarify the out-of-town plot allotment so that it does not require that previous gardeners lose their plots. He also suggested that gardeners currently gardening more than one plot be grandfathered in. Mr. Kennedy commented that further expansion of the garden should happen only if approved by the Commission due to their position in the wetlands and suggested consideration of the Waltham Street fields. Bob Pressman, Idylwilde gardener, commented that he didn’t think plots expanding outside of their areas was a problem and that he was concerned about the determination of plot forfeitures. Tom Ryan, Dunback Meadow gardener, commented that the Dunback garden was larger in the past, but that it has reduced because of abandonment over time. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to June 19, 2012 at the applicant’s request, 6-0 in favor. 7:59 pm Hearing – Katahdin Woods Land Management: Conestoga Road trailhead and trail connection, Lexington Conservation Stewards Documentation: Conestoga Road Trail Proposal, May 2012 Present for the applicant: Jay Sklar, Lexington Conservation Stewards Directors Mr. Sklar described a proposal to install a new unpaved trail entering from conservation land off of Conestoga Road into the Katahdin Woods trail network. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked about entering off of the top of Conestoga and distinguishing it as public land. Steve Kline of 9 Conestoga Road stated that he is opposed to this plan because he is concerned about people entering the conservation area on his driveway and because of concern about increased traffic in the neighborhood. The Commission agreed to set up a site visit on Tuesday, June 12 at 6 pm to look at both Conestoga entries. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to June 19, 2012 at the applicant’s request, 6-0 in favor. 8:20 pm Meeting – RDA, 52 Hartwell Avenue, NSTAR DET 12-11 Documentation: RDA application Present for the applicant: David Hallowell & Emily Anderson, NSTAR Mr. Hallowell described a plan to install a mobile capacitor at the NSTAR substation at 52 Hartwell Avenue. He clarified that steel plates would be replacing the concrete footings shown on the plan. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth commented that a quantitative floodplain analysis is needed. Ms. Miller read a report from the Engineering Division into the record. Mr. Kennedy commented that an NOI may be necessary for such extensive work in the floodplain. Mr. Bitkso asked what would be done with the material removed for the gravel. Mr. Wolk commented that containment of fluids is important. . Motion made and seconded to issue a positive determination, 6-0 in favor. 8:38 pm Meeting – RDA, Concord Avenue, Belmont Country Club DET 12-12 Documentation: RDA application Diesel Generator Set Specs Letter from EcoTech, Inc., May 28, 2012 Present for the applicant: Kelly Cardosa, Eco-Tech, Inc & Michael Rose, Belmont Country Club Ms. Cardosa described a plan to install a concrete pad to with a diesel generator to provide back-up power for the irrigation pond at the Belmont Country Club. She described the refueling process, which is intended to prevent spillage. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth clarified that the pad would be outside of the floodplain and requested that the excavation be completed in one day. Mr. Langseth asked for clarification about the refueling process and the enunciator. Mr. Kennedy asked for clarification about how the floodplain line was determined. Motion made and seconded to issue a negative determination with conditions but exempting the acceptance of the wetlands line, 6-0 in favor. 9:16 pm Hearing – NOI, 63 Ledgelawn Avenue, Applicant: Orr Homes, LLC, Owner: R. and T. Hutchinson. DEP 201-862, BL-820 Demolish and construct new SFH. Documentation: NOI application Present for the applicant: Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates Mr. Smyers described a plan to demolish an existing single family home and construct a new single family home. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked if the debris piles near the back of the property could be cleaned up during the demolition and construction process. Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 6-0 in favor. 9:30 pm Continued Hearing – NOI, 94 Hartwell Ave, Ashok Patel, Hartwell Hospitality, LLC DEP 201-859, BL 817 Construct an outside patio The applicant requested a continuance to June 19, 2012. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to June 19, 2012 at the applicant’s request, 6-0 in favor. 9:33 pm Request to Amend Order of Conditions (DEP 201-837, BL 795): 2013 & 2027 Mass Ave., Inn at Hastings Park, Applicant/Owner: Trisha Perez Kennealy, AB Holdings, LLC. Modify existing footprint for accessibility and improve Worthern Road driveway circulation. The Commission discussed a request to amend an Order of Conditions to move the curb radius an additional 6 feet to allow truck access and widen the driveway opposite of the wetland area. The Commission requested more details and color coding on the plan to show what had changed. Ms. Warren commented that the specs do not show all native plantings. Motion made and seconded to require an amendment to the Order of Conditions, 6-0 in favor. 9:40 pm Motion made and seconded to approve May 8, 2012 minutes with minor corrections, 6- 0 in favor. Motion made and seconded to approve May 15, 2012 minutes, 6-0 in favor. Motion made and seconded to approve May 22, 2012 minutes, 6-0 in favor. Motion made and second to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 39 Solomon Pierce Road pending the finalization of the Conservation Restriction, 6-0 in favor. 9:47 pm Motion made by roll call vote to enter executive session under Exemption 3 for the purposes of discussing Willard’s Woods litigation. It is declared that an open session would have a detrimental effect on the Town’s negotiating position. The Commission will not return to open session at the conclusion of executive session. Respectfully submitted, Emily Schadler Conservation Stewardship Coordinator